Truck.



CHARLES E. TAFT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TRUCK.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 722,166, dated March 3,1903. Application filed October 25, 1902. Serial No. 128,792. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. TAFT,a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at NewYork,

in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Trucks, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to trucks, and is particularly designed toprovide a truck which can be readily elevated and lowered.

The peculiar manner of accomplishing the result to be attained will bespecifically described hereinafter, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a truck constrncted in accordance withmy invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same, and Fig. 3 is asectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference, 1 designates abase-platform, which is supported on suitable casters 2.

The reference-numeral 3 designates a journal-oearing having alongitudinal bore, in which is mounted a rotating shaft 4, havingthreaded portions 5 and 6 intermediate its ends, the portions 5 and 6being threaded in opposite directions. The shaft 4 is also journaled inbearings 7 and 8 on the respective ends of the platform.Internally-threaded blocks 9 and 10 are engaged by the threaded portions5 and 6, respectively, of the shaft 4, so that when the shaft is rotatedthe blocks will move toward or away from the respective ends of theplatform. These blocks are provided with oppositely-disposed flanges,which form guide arms, slidably secured in the slotted ends 11, carriedby the respective sides of the base. The blocks are also provided withupwardly-projecting fingers or bearings 12, arranged in pairs and formedon the guide-arms on either side of the blocks. These fingers orbearings are arranged in pairs, and between them are pivoted the ends ofthe levers. The lazy-tongs are connected at their upper endsto similarbearings, carried by the oppositely-disposed flanges carried by thesliding guide-bars 14 and 15, the respective ends of which fit in theslotted guides 16 and 17. The levers 18 and 19 at the upper end of thetongs are connected to a rigid bearing 20, secured to the platform 21between guides 16 and 17, while the levers 22 and 23 are pivotallyconnected to the arms 24 of the bearing 3. On the end of the shaft 4 isa lever 25, provided with an elongated slot 26, through which the shaft4 projects. This lever carries a rigid dog or pawl 27, designed toengage the ratchet-wheel 2b.

Assuming the truck to be in a position shown in Fig. 1, suppose it isnecessary to lower the platform 21. The operator can grasp the handle 25and turn the shaft 4, so as to increase the distance between the blocks9 and 10. Then the lever is forced down, the dog 27 can be drawn out ofengagement with the teeth of the wheel 28 through the medium of the slot26. The lever can then be caused to engage the wheel at a proper pointon its periphery, so that the shaft can be further rotated, whereby theplatform 21 can be lowered to rest upon the platform 1. By rotating theshaft in the opposite direction the platform can beelevated back to theposition shown in Fig. 1.

It will be apparent that a truck constructed in accordance with thisinvention can be readily elevated or lowered as occasion may demand.

On the bearing 8 are fitted two oppositelydisposed dogs 29 and 30, whichengage or can engage teeth 31 on the ratchet wheel 32, rigidly securedto the shaft 4. When the truck is adjusted to its proper position andthe dogs thrown into engagement with the ratchet 32, the shaft 4 will besecurely held against rotating, whereby the platform 21 will be retainedin its proper relative position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- In a truckthe combination of a base, a platform normally resting thereon, and ahoisting device interposed between the platform and base, a revolubleshaft carried by the base and provided with threads adapted to engagecorresponding threads in the hoisting device, a ratchet-wheel on one endof the shaft, a lever provided with a longitudinal slot fitting over oneend of the shaft, an integral lug or projection carried by the lever forengagement with the ratchet-wheel, the slotted portion of the leverpermitting the projection to be drawn from engagement with theratchetwheel.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. TAFT.

XVitnesses:

R. P. HOVEY, A. M. TIMPSON.

